Bottom discharge bin latching assembly



R. w. SCHACKERMAN 3,

BOTTOM DISCHARGE BIN LATCHING ASSEMBLY April 26, 1966 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 9, 1963 INVENTOR.

REUBEN W. SCHACKERMAN Posifion B AGENT April 1966 R. w. SCHACKERMAN3,248,142

BOTTOM DISCHARGE BIN LATCHING ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet2 k 5 g j [7/ Fig.5

INVENTOR.

REUBEN W. SCHACKERMAN BY g? AGENT United States Patent 3,248 142 BOTTOMDISCHARGE Blfil LATCHING ASSEMBLY Reuben W. Schackerman, Haddonfield,NJ., assignor to Pennsalt Chemicals Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 328,973 4Claims. (Cl. 292238) This invention relates generally to bottomdischarge bins used for the storage and transport of bulk materials anddeals particularly with an improved latch mechanism for the cover of thedischarge opening of such bins.

In the storage and transport of bulk materials such as powders, pellets,granules, etc., it is frequently desirable to use a bin which isprovided with a bottom discharge opening. In one type of such bin aslidable gate arrangement is used to permit discharge of the contents.However, opening a loaded bin having a sliding gate requiresconsiderable force to overcome the friction involved. Furthermore, suchgates are subject to freezing of the slide channel and therefore sucharrangements are not entirely satisfactory. Alternatively, the dischargeopening 11. A cover 12 for the discharge opening is pivotally attachedat 13 and is fitted with a resilient gasket 14. An upwardly-curved coverextension 15 which may optionally have a wear plate 16 is shown held ina closed position by the latching mechanism 17. The latching mechanism17 comprises supporting means such as a pair of Support brackets 18 (seeFIGURE 4) spaced apart and extending vertically from a bottom portion ofthe bin. Each of said support brackets has an angled slot 19 with anoffset notch or recess 20, preferably arcuate as shown. The angularposition of the slot is such that the bottom of the slot is closer tosaid cover pivoting means 13 than is the top of said slot. The offsetnotch or recess 20 is between the top and bottom at the slot and is onthe side of the slot away from the cover-pivoting means 13 and willpreferably be at about the center of said angled slot. Positionedbetween the support brackets 18 (as shown in FIGURE 4) is a cam 21having as shown in the side view drawings, an essentially ellipticalvertical cross section, said cam having an edge projection 22.

The edge projection 22 will preferably extend along the opening may beclosed by a cover arrangement 'pivotally attached to the bottom of saidbin so that the cover swings downwardly from a closed position to anopen position to allow the contents of the bin to be discharged. Withsuch cover arrangements used in the past, however, the cover, whenreleased from its closed position by a latch mechanism, immediatelyopened completely and offered no control as to the rate of discharge ofthe bin contents.

It is an object of this invention to provide a bin having a bottomdischarge opening whereby the cover may be unlatched to a first partialopen position and subsequently further unlatched to a full openposition, thereby permitting the operator of the bin an opportunity tocontrol the initial rate of flow of the discharged material and toinspect the operation of the bin while in use to determined if the binis properly seated over a receiver for its contents, and to observe thecontents and operation of the bin at the point of use.

It is a further object'of this invention to provide a latch mechanismfor the bottom closure of a bottom discharge bin which may be operatedreadily and easily by rotary motion and at a distance from the openingof the bin by means of an actuating tool. Further objects, advantages,and features of the invention will be apparent by consideration of thefollowing drawing, description, and claims which follow.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary sectional View of a bottom discharge binshowing the discharge portion ofthe bin with a hinged cover and thelatching assembly of this invention holding the cover in a closedposition.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view as in FIG- URE 1, but showingthe cover in a partially-opened position.

FIGURE 3 is a close-up side view of the closure assembly showing apartially opened position (Position A) and showing further the motion tocompletely release the cover (Position B). I

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the latching assembly and also illustrates asection of a rotating tool and its engage ment with shaftmeans of thelatch.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 1 showing an embodimentof the invention in which a cover for the bottom bin is adjustablyattached to a coverretaining member which retaining member is engaged bythe latch mechanism of the invention.

FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate variations in the shape of the cam latchcomprising a part of the latch mechanism.

Reference numeral 10 in FIGURES l and 2 indicates the bottom wall of abottom discharge bin having an interior hopper 10a which communicateswith a discharge Shaft means 23 pivotally support cam 21for movementabout a,substantially horizontal axis and said shaft means are carriedby the angled slots of said brackets. At least one of said shaft meansis provided with means to engage a tool to rotate the cam. Optionally,there may be provided near or adjacent the angled slot and mounted onthe support brackets, stopping means 26 in order to prevent fullrotationof said cam. In order to ensure that the cover extension 15 may clearthe latching mechanism when swinging to the open position, it ispreferable that it not extend beyond centerline a-a shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 illustrates in more detail the tool for engagement with thecamshaft 23 for rotating the cam about its axis. In FIGURE 4 the engagingmeans is a T bar on the shaft which engages a slot of the tool 25.However, it will be understood that other forms of tool engagement maybe used as for example a square or hexagonal nut on the shaft 23 with acorresponding mating piece on the tool 25.

Operation of the latch device is quite simple and easily carried out ata distance from the latch itself by means of the actuating tool. To openthe cover from a closed position, the cam is rotated as shown by thearrow in FIGURE 1 allowing the cover 12 to drop and rest on the end ofthe cam which has been turned about In this manner there is obtained apartially-opened position as shown in FIGURE 2. This partially-openedposition is further illustrated by the broken lines shown in Position Aof FIGURE 3. .It may be seen that further rotation of the cam in thesame direction, as shown by the arrows, engages the projection 22 withthe cover extension 15. The' rotation of the cam forces the projection22 against the end of cover extension 15, which with continuedrotational force applied causes the shafts 23 to move into the off-setposition by occupying recess 20. When this occurs, the cover falls,clearing the latch mechanism as shown in Position B and therebyachieving a fully-opened position. Upon removal of the rotating toolfrom engagement with the cam shaft, the cam may be allowed to fall bygravity from the off-set notch to the bottom of the angular slot. Thus,the offset notch is preferably arcuated to aid this falling movement ofthe cam.

To close the cover of the bottom discharge bin, the procedure is simplyreversed. The cover is raised and as it approaches the latch mechanismit contacts the cam. With further raising, the cover extension pushesthe cam shafts into the off-set and thereby is able to proceed upwardclear of the cam whichthen drops by.

gravity into the lower portion of the angled slot. The cover extensionabove the cam may now rest on the cam to assume a partially-openposition as shown in FIGURE 2. Engagement of the tool with the actuatingmeans on the shaft then permits rotation of the cam in a manner oppositeto the arrow shown in FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 3 so that the cam engages thecover extension and raises it to the closed position. i

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be madeto various features of thedevice. In FIGURE 5 for example, there isillustrated a bottom portion of a bin in which the cover 27 for thedischarge opening is adjustably mounted by means of a. threaded bolt 28to a cover-retaining bar 29 which is pivotally attached at 13 to thebottom of the bin and which is engaged by the latching mechanism aspreviously illustrated. An advantage of this embodiment is that itpermits adjustment of the cover upon the resilient gasket 14 and therebyenables a tight closure to be maintained even though dimensional changesdue to wear might occur.

In FIGURES 6 and 7 there are illustrated cams for the latching mechanismwhich differ in shape from the cam shown in the previous drawings. InFIGURE 6 the cam has a flat top which is useful to provide a greatercontact surface between the cam and the wear plate 16. In FIGURE 7 thereis illustrated a lobed cam which enables a more positive seatingarrangement to be obtained. In this embodiment of the invention theextension of the cover or cover-retaining bar has a nub 30 at its endand adjacent said nub seating means such as a depression into which thelobe 32 of the cam 21 seats. It is preferable that the nub 39 not extendbeyond the center line aa in order for the cover extension to easilyclear the cam in the full release position (i.e. with the cam shafts inthe oiTset notch). It will be understood further that the cam, the coverextension or retaining bar, and the various other parts of the latchingmechanism may be modified in numerous ways without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a bin having a bottom discharge opening the im provement whichcomprises, in combination, a cover for said bottom discharge opening anda cam latching mechanism therefor;

said cover having means pivotally attaching it to a bottom portion ofsaid bin to swing downwardly from a closed position to an open position,and having an upwardly curved extension on a side opposite said pivotingmeans;

said latching mechanism comprising:

A. supporting means extending vertically from a bottom portion of saidbin, said supporting means having an angled slot with an offset notchbetween the bottom and top of said slot, the angular position of saidslot being such that the bottom of said slot is closer to said coverpivoting means than is the top of said slot, said offset being on theside of said slot away from Said cover pivoting means,

B. a cam having an edge projection extending at one end,

C. shaft means pivotally supporting said cam for pivotal movement abouta substantially horizontal axis, said shaft means being carried by saidslot in said supporting means, said shaft means being capable ofengagement with a tool to rotate said cam about its axis,

whereby, 7

said upwardly-curved extension of said cover in its closed positionrests on an end of said cam and when unlatching said cover by rotatingsaid cam, said cover drops and said curved extension improvement whichcomprises, in combination, a cover for said bottom discharge opening and'a cam latching.

mechanism therefor;

said cover having means pivotally attaching it portion of said bin toswing downwardly from a closed position to an open position, and havingan upwardly curved extension on a side op-.

posite said pivoting means; said latching mechanism comprising:

A. a pair of support brackets spaced apart and extending vertically froma bottom portion of said bin, each of said brackets having. an angledslot with an arcuated center offset notch, the

angular position of said slot being such that the.

bottom of said slot is closer to said cover pivoting means than is thetop of said slot, said oif set being on the side of said slot away fromsaid cover pivoting means,

B. a cam having an essentially elliptical vertical cross-sectionpositioned between said support brackets, said cam having an edgeprojection extending at one end,

C. shaft means pivotally supporting said cam for pivotal movementabout-a substantially horizontal axis, said shaft means being carried bysaid slots in said brackets, means on said shaft means to engage a toolto rotate said cam about its axis, and cam stopping means attached tosaid support bracket at a point above .said ofiset notch to prevent fullrotation of said cam;

whereby,

said upwardly curved extension of said cover in its closed positionrests on an end of said cam 'and when unlatching said cover by rotatingsaid cam about away from said cam stopping means, said cover drops andsaid extension rests on the opposite endzof said cam to achieve apartially open position, and whereby further rotation of said cam in thesame direction, engages said projection with said cover extension andmoves said Supporting cam shaft means into said arcuated offset notchesallowing said cover to fall clear of said latching mechanism to a fullyopen position; and. whereby in closing said discharge opening said coverextension contacts said cam and moves said cam shafts into said arcuatedoffset notches to permit clearance of said cover extension as is movesto a position above said cam, said cam shaftj means thereafter returningby gravity to the bottom of said slots, thereby permitting said coverextension to rest on oneend of said cam and thereby holding said coverin a partially closed position until said cam is rotated further toraise said cover to a fully closed position.

3. In a bin having a bottom discharge opening, the

to a bottom:

for said bottom discharge opening and a cam latching portion of said binto swing downwardly from mechanism therefor; a closed position to anopen position, said coversaid cover retaining member having an upwardlycurved having means pivotally attaching it to a bottom extension on aside opposite said pivoting means;

Portion of Said bill F Swing downwardly from said curved extensionhaving seating means ada closed position to an open position, and havjat it nd;

ing an upwardly curved extension on a side opsaid latching mechanismcomprising: posite said pivoting means, said curved exten- A. a pair ofsupport brackets spaced apart and sion having sealing means adjacent itsextending vertically from a bottom portion of Said latching mechanismcomprising! said bin, each of said brackets having an angled cover in apartially closed position until said cam is rotated further to raisesaid cover to a fully closed position.

a P of pp ra kets spaced apart and 10 slot with an arcuated centeroffset notch, the extending vertically from a bottom portion of angularposition of said slot being such that the said bin, each of saidbrackets having an angled bottom of said slot is closer to said coverpivotslot with an arcuated center offset notch, the ing means than isthe top of said slot, said offangular position of said slot being suchthat the t being on th ide of aid slot away from bottom of said slot iscloser to said cover pivotaid o ivotin means. ing means than is the P ofsaid B said B. a lobed cam having an essentially elliptical set notchbeing on the Side of Said Slot aw y vertical cross-section positionedbetween said from said cover pivoting means, support brackets, said camhaving an edge pro- B. a lobed cam having an essentially elliptical jctio extending atone end,

vertical cross-section positioned between said C. shaft means pivotallysupporting said cam for support brackets, said cam having an edgepropivotal movement about a substantially horizonjection extending atone end, tal axis, said shaft means being carried by said C. shaft meanspivotally supporting said cam for slots in said brackets, at least oneof said shaft pivotal movement about a substantially hori- 2 meanscapable of engaging a tool to rotate said zontal axis, said shaft meansbeing carried by cam about its axis, cam stopping means ati slots n saidbrackets, at least one f i tached to said support bracket at a pointabove shaft means capable of engaging a tool to rosaid oifset to preventfull rotation of said cam; tate said cam about its axis, cam-stoppingwhereby, means attached to said support bracket at a said seating meansof said upwardly point above said offset notch to prevent full rocurvedextension of said cover in its tation of said cam; closed position restson said cam lobe whereby, and when unlatching said cover by ro- SaidSeating means of Said P 3 tating said cam about 180 away from curvedextension rests on said cam said stopping means, said cover drops 10116in a cldsed 601/61 Position and and said extension then rests on thewhen unlatching saidcover by rotating opposite end of said cam toachieve a said cam about 180 away from said partially open position, andwhereby stop, said cover drops and said eX e further rotation of saidcam in the sion then rests on the opposite end of 40 same directionengages said cam pmsaid calm 'to achieve a partially op n jection withthe end of said extension position, and whereby further rotaand movessaid supporting cam shaft tion of said cam in the same directi n, meansinto said arcuated offset notches engages said cam projection with theallowing said cover to fall clear of said end of said extension andmoves said latching mechanism to a fully open Supporting cam shaft meansinto said position; and whereby in closing said arcuated Ofisfit notchesallowing said discharge opening said cover exten- Cover to fall clear ofSaid latching sion contacts said cam and moves said mechanism to a fullyopen p i cam shaft means into said arcuated and whereby in closing saiddischarge offset notches to permit clearance of op g said cover ns n ona t said cover extension as it moves to a said cam and moves said camshaft position above said cam, said cam means into said arcuated otfsetshaft means thereafter returning by notches to permit clearance of saidgravity to the bottom of said slots, cover extension as it moves to aposithereby permitting said cover exten: tion above said said cam shaftsion to rest on one end of said cam means thereafter returningby-gravity and thereby holding said cover in a t0 the bottom of SaidSlots thereby partially closed position until said permitting said coverextension to rest cam is rotated f th toward i on Said cam and therebyholding salde no stopping means to raise said cover to a fully-closedposition.

References-Cited by the Examiner 4. In a bin having a bottom dischargeopening, the UNITED STATES ENTS improvement which comprises incombination, a cover 714,376 11/1902 Howell 292-240 X for said bottomdischarge opening and a cam latching 1,606,907 11/1926 Stevie 292-238mechanism therefor; 2,482,516 9/1949 Sheesley -308 said cover 2,605,1257/1952 Emerson 292-241 being attached to a cover-retaining member which7 has means pivotally attaching it to a bottom 0 PATRICK A. CLIFFORD,Primary Examiner.

1. IN A BIN HAVING A BOTTOM DISCHARGE OPENING THE IMPROVEMENT WHICHCOMPRISES, IN COMBINATION, A COVER FOR SAID BOTTOM DISCHARGE OPENING ANDA CAM LATCHING MECHANISM THEREFOR; SAID COVER HAVING MEANS PIVOTALLYATTACHING IT TO A BOTTOM PORTION OF SAID BIN TO SWING DOWNWARDLY FROM ACLOSED POSITION TO AN OPEN POSITION, AND HAVING AN UPWARDLY CURVEDEXTENSION ON A SIDE OPPOSITE SAID PIVOTING MEANS; SAID LATCHINGMECHANISM COMPRISING: A. SUPPORTING MEANS EXTENDING VERTICALLY FROM ABOTTOM PORTION OF SAID BIN, SAID SUPPORTING MEANS HAVING AN ANGLED SLOTWITH AN OFFSET NOTCH BETWEEN THE BOTTOM AND TOP OF SAID SLOT, THEANGULAR POSITION OF SAID ALOT BEING SUCH THAT THE BOTTOM OF SAID SLOT ISCLOSER TO SAID COVER PIVOTING MEANS THAT IS THE TOP OF SAID SLOT, SAIDOFFSET BEING ON THE SIDE OF SAID SLOT AWAY FROM SAID COVER PIVOTINGMEANS, B. A CAM HAVING AN EDGE PROJECTION EXTENDING AT ONE END, C. SHAFTMEANS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID CAM FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT ASUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS, SAID SHAFT MEANS BEING CARRIED BY SAIDSLOT IN SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, SAID SHAFT MEANS BEING CAPABLE OFENGAGEMENT WITH A TOOL TO ROTATE SAID CAM ABOUT ITS AXIS, WHEREBY, SAIDUPWARDLY-CURVED EXTENSION OF SAID COVER IN ITS CLOSED POSITION RESTS ONAN END OF SAID CAM AND WHEN UNLATCHING SAID COVER BY ROTATING SAID CAM,SAID COVER DROPS AND SAID CURVED EXTENSION RESTS ON THE OPPOSITE END OFSAID CAM TO ACHIEVE A PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION, AND WHEREBY FURTHERROTATION OF SAID CAM IN THE SAME DIRECTION, FORCES SAID PROJECTIONAGAINST SAID COVER EXTENSION AND MOVES SAID SUPPORTING CAM SHAFT MEANSINTO SAID OFFSET NOTCH ALLOWING SAID COVER TO FALL CLEAR OF SAID LATCHMECHANISM TO A FULLY OPEN POSITION.